Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-27
CHURCH SERVICES.
CHRISTMAS oBsERvAxCEs IN TIE
HOUSES OF WORSHIP.
Great Crowds Of People in Attendance
Anniversary Celebration OF Leigh
Street School, &c.

NOANblhklDn Vi Aciba
Street School, &c.
Thelightsnow which was on the ground
at church time Sunday morning deferred
very few people from attending their
houses Of worship, for the programmes
OF service were very inviting and the
best musical talent of the city was en-
gagged. In the Episcopal. Catholic, and
Lutheran churches tho published orders
of exercises were faithfully executed.
While the sermons rehear5ed the lessons
OF the Saviour's birth and life, the songs
were all of the most joyous character.
Put it w0s not alone III these churches
that the day was honorcd. from nearly
every pulpit in the city came touching
reference to the festival, and in the
prayers offered, and in the hymns sung,
and in the greetings that went from per
son 10 person as the congregations dis
persed there was grateful acknowledg-
ment OF Gods blessings and cordial con-
gratulaiions upon tie return OF the hap
py day.
A GREAT CELEBRATION At LEIGH STREET.
The people OF Church Hill say that
with al the great Christmas times they
have known ct Lcigh-Street Baptist
church. they have never had anything to
equal what they had yesterday.
sRyEN HUNDRED ASD Eighty
presents were given out and every Off
Ger and teacher an3fcholar of that I'M
mense Sunday schooiwent home happy.
Mr.. William II. Williams, who has served
the school for thittceA years rs superin-
tendent, presided.
The exercises BEGAN with n Christmas
anthem by the choir, after which in one
course came respoIsiycreadmgs. prayer.
solos and cho-uscs all OF winch passed
OH satisfactorily. Professor Watson
presided at the organ.
Rev. DR.. Goodwin presented DR.. \. =.
Dickinson to the audience in a few
happy remarks. Dr. Dickinson cone
graduated the school on having
rcached tie point at which ID may claim
to to the largest Sunday school ia the
South. Ii might be said Of this people
.hat the, have mo better sense tuan t0
stand 10y their church end theit Sunday
school. Men may come and men may
go. bat this Leich--trect crO2d crows
larger a., the years roll around. Dr.
Dickinson CONGRATULATED Mr. Williams
upon hi marvellous success as sUporn-
tcndcn. Of this school. and hc congrata-
lated him, too, on the successor MIR.
Jackson Iugpin vino Las been elected
to succeed him as superintendent, ald
be- urged tia, toe new superintendent be
supported as loyally as the Old one had
been. and that Leiph-5lrect should go
ahead and coutiuGe to lead ali the Sun
day schools of Richmond and the South.
The congregation received his speech
with great delight. The following re-
porls were read:
Secretary's Report Number Of OF
Gers and teachers on roll. 1S; scholars,
72j; average attendance OF officers anc
teachers lortra year, 90 average attend
aucc of scholars, 5i2 percentage, l6
largest attendance OF scholars WIS on
june 2j, 610; smallest attendance July
--, 342 ayo,8gc attendance OF officer
and teachers for 1865, G@ average at-
tendance OF scholars. ~: increase Oi
scholars on average, 20; number of new
scholars for 1857, lGj; deaths ..
Ircasurers Report amount on hnnc
received during The wear, Si7LGD
|rnouat d.5bulud. EtE.70; balance OF
hand. Sl2G.9O. Total, el5lG0, Repor
Of primary department: Number o
scholars ON roll. 80 average attcn
Gnce for :he year, POS; number o
teachers ON roll. rs, average attendance
-: amount collected during the year
s7G.26 amount expended. 5000
balance on hand, So rs largest attend
ance during the year was oH The fourth
Sunday in June. 213; smalle.. schOo
was OH the fourth Sunday in February
10l; new scholars brought in during the
wear. 60: number transferred to the
large room, Is.
st The conclusion Of the regular cxcr-
ciscs in the upper room Teacher b. L.
johnson Vns tie recipient of ahandsomc
gold-hclded umbrella from the young
ladies of bis class, aud Mr.. Jackson Iur-
/ pin a valuable sold pen irom the mem
bers OF the Boys Missionary Society,
over which he has maintained watchiul
/ care.
These services having been finished
the school retired to the iccture.room,
where ~aLtl Cllue,' with hoqry locks
and beard, spoke kind words TO the chill
dr,n. then ordered the committee to dis
tribute the "candy bags which was
ohcyel, to the great pleasure Of the little
people.
The entire service moved on smoothly,
I all seemed 10 bc happy, anl thus clcsed
the thirty-fourth anniyer.ary Of the
Lei2h Street Baptist Sunday school.
This meeting was postponed from
Sunday, the day Oh which it is generally
held.
Irs OFFICERS ELECrEp.
This school has steadily grown from q